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Andrew Jackson 



PRESIDENT OF THE 

UNITED STATES 

OF AMERICA 



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ANDREW JACKSON IV 



[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED] 



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ANDREW JACKSON 



Andrew Jackson s Career Early in American 

History 

THE number of years during which this distinguished man, one of 
the three mountain peaks in our country's history, has been 
skmibering in his grave are now such as to permit a just and 
proper appreciation of his character. The flames of political warfare 
through which he tread so fearlessly when alive are extinguished. 

His contemporaries, friends and enemies alike, have passed away, 
and while they may be allowed to furnish the evidence in the faith of 
which, when sifted, he will ultimately be judged, posterity alone is the 
competent authority to assign to him his place in the annals of our race, 
and to award to General Jackson that reputation which is forever his 
glory, or that reputation which is to be forever his shrine. 

Whatever may be the result of the attempt I am about to make to 
present a profile view, rather than a complete sketch, of this remarkable 
man, I am encouraged to hope that in the minds of my readers — and 
through them in those of our posterity, I may place even a dimly shining 
lamp shedding new light upon Jackson's character as a man, a man 
"from whom our daughters would receive as from knights of old, the 
CHASTEST reverence — the most ardent protection. To whom we 
could safely lead our sons for examples of as modest patriotism as but 
few of this world's military heroes have ever furnished." 

The view before you pictures him in his Major General's uniform, 
painted so wonderfully well by the artist Earl who lived at "The 
Hermitage" for over twenty years, dying so unexpectedly that he had 
to leave the last artistic touches unfinished. The artist's wife was a 
niece of Mrs. Rachel Jackson and dying in the first year of her mar- 
riage. General and Mrs. Jackson urged the artist to make his home 
with them, giving to him not only a life long home and liberal patronage, 
but a last resting place in the Hermitage garden near the tomb. This 
artist was greatly beloved by the whole family, having very amiable 
qualities of character. Of him General Jackson writes just after his 
death: "I have met with a great bereavement. I have lost my friend, 
Colonel Earl, who died on the 16th instant, after a few days of sick- 
ness. He was my steadfast friend, my traveling companion ; he was 
pure, upright and an honest man; but a kind Providence has removed 
him from me to a happier realm than this. I will soon follow him, I 
hope, to meet him where there is rest." 

1 



A revelation awaits those who may in the future gain access to the 
home letters of General Andrew Jackson in the original envelopes as 
to the religious views which pervaded the whole stratum of his charac- 
ter, a part that has been most strongly contested in consequence of long 
standing prejudice and misconceptions. The impression has been widely 
spread throughout the country that he was a very profane man, whose 
Christian faith, if he ever had any, only budded forth when he was 
verging towards the grave. This error originated no doubt from his 
never having put on that sanctimonious garb assumed by too many from 
policy in the temple and other public places. 

If it is true that in nothing does a man reveal himself more un- 
guardedly and exhibit more clearly his true nature than in his private 
letters with those he cherishes and trusts, then may we believe in the 
evidences of his religious feeling shown in his family correspondence, 
running through more than thirty years. Those who may have done 
him so much injustice by holding so wrongful an opinion of him should 
he glad to be undeceived by the feeling shown in the following extracts 
from some of his home letters. 

Congratulating a friend upon the birth of a son, he wrote in 1826: 
"Mrs. Jackson and myself, with pious hearts and great good feeling, 
present our blessings to the child. As he advances in years may his 
intellect and virtue strengthen with his strength and he become the com- 
fort and stay of his parents." 

Again writing from "The Hermitage" just before his wife's death, 
he acknowledges his belief in a Divine Providence, saying: "We have 
a very doleful prospect here ; we have not had rain enough to wet the 
earth one inch for three months; every vegetable is burnt up; our cattle 
starving; the springs in many places dried up, and still no prospects of 
rain. The earth is so parched that we can sow no fall crop; no turnips, 
no potatoes, no cabbages. Our crops of cotton and corn are only a half- 
crop. Still I trust in a kind Providence 'Who doeth all things well — 
that He will not scourge us with famine'." 

Writing in 1826 to a young man upon whose estate he had admin- 
istered, who upon taking possession of it when of age, discovered that 
the charges usually made by administrators had not been presented and 
expostulated with General Andrew Jackson for the omission, the high 
toned disinterestedness shown in the reply of one who was not only not 
rich, but whose pecuniary means were frequently stunted, is refreshing 
at an epoch like this — when an unsatiable thirst for gold incessently 
goads men to invent the most ingenious means to obtain it, per fas ct 
nefas. The reply is dated May 26, 1826. 

"I have no charge," he says, "against your estate; I never charged 
an orphan one cent for either time or expense, and I shall not now 
begin with you." 

Whenc\er in his correspondence he glances at public affairs, he 
shows that manliness — that unswerving love of justice; that keen appre- 
ciation of men and things which distinguished him in his military and 
civil career. His amiable solicitude for his friends and companions in 
anns, and the tenacity and ardor of his friendship are proverbial. 

7 



ODE TO ANDREW JACKSON 



Walter Savage Landor 



Happy may be the land 
WTicrc mortals witli their eyes uplifted stand 

While eloquence her thunder rolls: 
Happier, where no deceptive light 
Bursts upon passion's stormy night, 

Guiding to rocks and shoals. 

Happiest of all, where man shall lay 

His limbs at their full length, nor over cast 
The sky above his head, but the pure ray 

Shines brighter on the future than the past. 
Look, look into the East afar, 
Refulgent Western star! 

And where the fame of Pallas stands, 
Rcar'd to her glory by His hands. 
Thou, altho' nowhere else, shalt see 
A Stateman and a Chief like Thee. 

How rare the sight, how grand. 

Behold the golden scales of Justice stand 

Well balanced in a mailed hand. 
Following the calm Deliverer of mankind. 

In Thee again we find 

This spectacle renew'd. 

Glory altho' there be 

To leave Thy country free. 
Glory had reacht not there her plenitude. 



Note — Taken from the Works and Life of Walter Savage Landor, 
VOL. 8, p. 134: The great English poet, Landor, was nobly gra- 
cious and full of most liberal appreciation of and great admira- 
tion for Andrew Jackson. See "Historic Sidelights" (Arnold) 
1899, page 25. Also see "Turner's Essays in American History," 
page 2030, and "The Human Nature in Politics" (Wallas), 
page 243. "Country Homes of Famous Americans" (Capcn). 
Introduction on page 97. 

3 



Andrew Jackson 

President, United States of America 
By Andrew Jackson IV. 

PEOPLE are becoming more interested in Andrew Jackson's life, 
especially during this greatest of political years. The life of 
Washington is an open book, nothing new left to read about him. 
Lincoln is well known to all Americans. But Andrew Jackson's life is 
an unknown quantity as regards many, many things. People are now 
turning to that period in our history so full of rich news and things 
exciting, that they want to know what really went on in our country's 
history between Washington and Lincoln. And Andrew Jackson's life 
enables us to grasp the changes made in our National and local political 
life. 

Can you tell some of the laws passed while he was President? 
Where he was born ? And when ? Was he not the first woman's cham- 
pion of the then new West? Did he not cause our country to pay up 
in full all its National debts while President? Was not there peace 
between Nations and the States maintained during his Presidency? 
Who were his friends? His enemies? How old was he on reaching 
the White House? What was his famous toast on a great occasion? 
What inventions made, battles fought, books written, and famous men 
and women crossed the world's stage while Andrew Jackson lived and 
tought his great battles from 1767 to 1845? 

Read on and see how he married young, a beautiful lady in 1791, 
living most happily with her for 38 years, and himself writing this 
epitaph to her: "... Her face was fair, her person pleasing, her 
temper amiable, her heart kind. She delighted in relieving the wants of 
her fellow creatures and cultivated that divine pleasure by the most 
liberal and unpretending methods. To the poor she was a benefactor; 
to the rich an example ; to the wretched a comforter ; to the prosperous 
an ornament. Her piety went hand in hand with her benevolence, and 
she thanked her Creator for being permitted to do good. A being so 
gentle and so virtuous slander might wound, but could not dishonor; 
even death, when he bore her from the arms of her husband, could but 
transp6rt her to the bosom of her God." Did he not choose well his 
words to prove the romance of his youth and love for his beautiful wife, 
Rachel ? 

The President's mansion in those days began to look dingy, and did 
you know he had it painted white for the first time? Ever since it has 
had its glistening coat of white every ten years and oftener if needed. 
Thus the name — the White House — became its new description to us all. 

An up-to-date question back then nearly a 100 years ago was what 
to do about saloons and liquor. So Andrew Jackson, together with 
James Madison, John Q. Adams and the American Temperance Society, 
issued this viewpoint of it: "Being satisfied from observation and ex- 
perience, as well as from medical testimony, that ariient spirit as a drink, 
is not only needless, but hurtful, and that the entire disuse of it would 

4 



tend to promote the health, the virtue and the happiness of the com- 
munity, we hereby express our conviction, that should the citizens of the 
United States, and especially all young men, discountenance entirely the 
use of it they would not only promote their own personal benefit, but 
the good of our country and the world." 

A thin gold locket holds his portrait as of the time he passed the 
bar examination in his twenty-first year. Dressed as a gentleman with 
soft silk collar and white bow tic, white waistcoat, fashionable cut coat, 
with hair brushed straight back, piercing gray eyes, handsome face — all 
look out at you as one strong man to another. His lawyer's career began 
in 1787 and later on in it Harvard University gave him a Doctor of 
Laws degree, for his splendid work in that profession, and his achieve- 
ments in the political field. 

Can you vision OLD HICKORY just entering the Presidency 
when 61 years of age? Most of us think of him as a young w^arrior on 
that occasion, because of his fiery career as our leader throughout the 
long eight years he led us and made our young country the most re- 
spected nation of the world. Why was he so affectionately called Old 
Hickory? Did he let any foreign country burn our Nation's capital city, 
as happened once? "Booty and Beauty" were to be the reward of the 
British forces a few weeks later after burning Washington City, on their 
capture of the gateway to the South. This motto roused Andrew Jack- 
son so that he killed 2500 of the invaders before they could even see 
New Orleans, along with their great general, Pakenham, whose body 
had to be preserved in a w'ine barrel of strong wine en route back to 
England to preserve it for burial there. And do 3'ou suppose that Great 
Britain would have ever turned loose of the richest part of our country 
if notified of that far ofi peace of Ghent? Andrew Jackson at the Battle 
of New Orleans, with his cannon and artillery, system of trenches, and 
good Southern fighters, and knowledge of modern warfare, drove the 
British from our shores for all time to come. 

Now wouldn't you like to read about his early boyhood and the 
lifelong fight he had in behalf of his beloved country, going along with 
him in his upward climb to fame and the champion of the greatest nation 
of the world ? 

Take the books on the life of Jackson. Did you ever notice that 
there are a large number of them ? And also that many who wrote them 
stood high in the councils of your country? They became well known 
and famous and many came to hold great political of^ce. And they 
said the more learned of Andrew Jackson the more fascinating his life 
appeared and the more they came to admire him and his achievements. 
And Jackson himself could use pen and ink effectively and one marvels 
how he wrote so well and correctly, and so many letters and documents 
in his busy lifetime, and that only with a goose quill pen. Try and see 
how well you can write with one. Besides he had no dictionary because 
none had been written by Webster. He proved to be a better speller 
than most men of his time, as his letters show. In his tent out in the 
wilderness, fighting savage Indians in the South, after a hard day's 
work with battling hordes of painted savages, Jackson would not retire 

5 



to his army cot until he had written to his wife by a flickering candle. 
No matter how tired he was he made this his rule. Among his heirlooms 
is a small knitted pouch of beaded work she made to fit in his vest pocket 
to carry change or trinkets in, and it shows it was put to good service 
by Old Hickory in his Indian campaigns. 

All thru his various positions of lawyer, judge, member of Con- 
gress, Presidential occupant he proved himself a good public speaker, 
as witness the address he delivered before a great University of which 
he was a Trustee for many years: "Young Gentlemen — With lively 
feelings of joy and pride I receive your address. To find that even the 
youth of my country, although engaged in literary pursuits and exempt 
from military duties, are willing when the voice of patriotism calls, to 
abandon for the time the seat of the Muses for the privations of the 
camp, excites in my heart the warmest interest. The country which 
has the good fortune to be defended by soldiers animated by such feel- 
ings as those young gentlemen who were once members of the same 
literary institution you now are, and whom I had the honor to com- 
mand, will never be in danger from internal or external foes. Their 
good conduct on many trying occasions will never be forgotten by their 
General. It is a particular satisfaction that you duly appreciate the 
merits of those worthy and highly distinguished Generals of the Revolu- 
tion named Carroll and Coffee and Thomas and Morgan and Adair, and 
others. Their example is worthy imitation ; and from the noble senti- 
ments which you on this occasion have expressed I entertain no doubt 
that if ever circumstances require you will emulate their deeds of valour. 
It is to such officers and their associates in arms that the United States 
can vie in military achievements with the most renowned of all the world 
powers. That your academic labors may be crowned with success, by 
fulfilling the highest expectations of your relatives and friends, is the 
ardent and sincere wish of my heart. Receive, my young friends, my 
prayers for your future health and prosperity." His letters and speeches 
were all models of and examples of good taste rarely equaled. 

Was not Andrew Jackson a diplomat? Here is a sample he used 
with Naples. You know that Murat was king of Naples in 1809-1810- 
1811-1812, and was brother-in-law of Napoleon Bonaparte of France. 
Murat had the audacity and nerve to seize and confiscate many vessels 
of the United States and forced their American crews into slavery. He 
enslaved 119 American sailors. Finally Murat was dethroned and shot. 
We, the United States, put in a claim for Murat's trespasses, but we 
had no navy to back it up. And Naples new king replied that it was 
enough to have had IMurat for a king at all and that Naples would 
never pay us a cent. Presidents Madison and Monroe and Adams tried 
in vain to get redress. Then came President Jackson and said to Naples: 
"I know how a big man bears a good deal from a little man and I know 
it will be hard to make your little kingdom pay for the trespasses of a 
usurper like Murat." In this spirit of diplomacy did President Jackson 
approach Naples anil the matter settled for over 2,115,000 ducats. He 
won by his diplomacy alone. His statesmanship was without parallel in 
history. 

6 



A Fi^ /iter's Story 

By Andrew Jackson IV. 

AT 20 Alexander set out to conquer himself a place in the world 
using his sword for a weapon, for his guide hope, with courage 
for capital. 

At 20 Andrew Jackson started out to make his way through the 
world with a lawyer's education plus intelligence, strength of youth, a 
heart perfectly fearless, a soul of honor, and resolved never to turn back. 

His trusty horse between his legs, he rode through the forests and 
the terrible perils of savages and wild beasts to courts far distanced. 

One narrow escape of his was when he started out with a party of 
other men to go from Nashville to joncsboro in East Tennessee. One 
morning he missed his party, and got a guide and rode all day and all 
night to catch up with them, only to find their camp fire embers still 
warm. Jackson's keen eyes saw Indian tracks on the trail, and it was a 
large war party and were no doubt just ahead. His guide got cold feet 
and balked and turned back. Jackson determined to save his friends or 
perish, as he knew those Indians were after his party. 

Farther on his eyes saw evidences of their leaving the trail to slip 
up on the white men and ambush them and kill all. On and on and 
still on rode Jackson until his final push landed him with his party just 
at dusk by the banks of a frozen stream. All that night no rest was 
allowed for any one and on they went all the next day to escape the 
savages' ambush. At sunset of the second day they arrived at a hunter's 
cabin. Several hunters were within the stockade and refused admission 
churlishly to Jackson and his companions. On they pushed again in the 
storm and the snow and the cold until they finally felt safe enough to 
encamp. Jackson had had not a wink of sleep for four days and nights 
and once wrapped in his blanket on the ground by the side of the others, 
he slept like the dead until morning, only to find that the snow had 
piled up on top of him a foot deep during the night. Later on they 
found that the savages had killed the hunters in the cabin-stockade that 
night, thus satisfying their blood thirsty instincts and no longer w-ere 
pursuing Jackson. 

Watchful waiting for Indian attacks by the whites of that beautiful 
region of the United States made these backwoodsmen rough and ready 
and quarrelsome and free-for-all fighters. Jackson was thus trained to 
enforce respect for law and order by quickness with pistol, tongue and 
fists to back up his District Attorney's job. As a lawyer for the ten 
years after his admission to the bar Jackson saw to it that he was well 
paid for this dangerous frontier law work. For an ordinary law suit 
he got one square mile of land for his fee. By 1796 he had been paid 
50,000 square miles in fees. 

Being fearless in issuing and serving writs, he soon won the mer- 
chants as his clients, for all had bad debts. The first month he was 
on the job he issued writs and served 70 delinquent debtors. He had to 

7 



attend every court in Tennessee to do his duty, over 72 cases out of the 
docket of 150 being given him by the merchants for collection in April 
alone in 1790. In the four terms of court in 1794 Jackson had 228 
cases out of 397 cases on the courts' dockets. More than half his time 
was spent traveling from court to court through the wilds of Tennessee. 

Among his many trying duties romance crept in and Jackson helped 
a friend to win the girl of his choice. A beautiful girl named Mary 
Smith and called Polly, was loved by Samuel Donelson. She loved him 
too, and they wanted to marry. Her folks refused to let her. One 
afternoon when Polly sat in her room in "Rock Castle" she heard the 
axe swinging in the forest nearby like some one cutting down a tree. 
This was her lover's message to get ready to elope with him. Andrew 
Jackson made a sapling ladder and that night Samuel Donelson and he 
went to the fair lady's window and down she climbed into the arms of 
her lover. Up behind him she got on his horse and all rode fast away 
to the preacher, with Jackson for best man, that very night. 

A "bad man" of the mountain district in Jackson's territory cut his 
little child's ear off, saying — "It is not my own, and I mark it to know 
it from my own." The child died. Jackson held court in the same 
place and the "bad man" refused to have anything to do with any court, 
and so a sheriff's posse treed him. He threatened to shoot the first man 
to come after him up the tree. Jackson heard the posse report to the 
judge in court where he was trying a case. Jackson said "Summon me." 
As soon as court was over for lunch period, Jackson was deputized and 
started after the "bad man." Someone told the outlaw that Judge Jack- 
son was after him and at once he gave up and climbed down the tree, 
saying, "I know Jackson would sure shoot me if I didn't give up." 

The Indians kept killing his neighbors and friends by the wholesale 
and scalping them and other bloody deeds. Indian wars followed fast 
on one another until the inefficient management at Washington was so 
evident that Jackson took matters into his own hands and of failure and 
chagrin made brilliantly successful campaigns against the foes of the 
whites. Through patriotic motives Jackson equipped his men and paid 
them himself at the start of Indian hostilities, taking the money out of 
his bank deposit. Down into the heart of the savage wilds he went with 
his men and shared their hardships and food and hard grounds for his 
nightly slumbers. 

Relief from Washington did not come, and after much suflferings 
and hard marches and still no food or supplies from the Nation's capi- 
tal, his army became as attenuated as that of a spider's web. At length, 
his entire army almost, despairing of relief, determined to abandon the 
expedition and go home, and some were actually on their way marching 
northward to home fires. Jackson found his whole brigade of volunteers 
ready to follow suit. There was no force to restrain them. So the 
General relied upon himself alone. His one arm still in a sling due to 
a bullet wound, he seized a musket with the other arm, rested the gun 
on his horse's neck, rode to the front of the soldiers' column, and 
declared he would shoot the first man who should take a step in advance. 
Amazed at his boldness they gazed at him in silence. After a conference 

8 



they agreed to return to duty once more. But still no relief showed up, 
discontent was unallayed still, and Jackson finally allowed his volunteers 
to return to their home fires. He gathered a fighting force out of other 
materials. Had he received sufficient supplies after the hattlc of Talla- 
dega, and been met with a concert of action by his Kast Tennessee com- 
manders, he could have ended the Indian wars within ten days; it was 
protracted five months. 

Jackson with his new levies of fine soldiers marched on into the 
heart of the fierce and large Creek Indian Nation, fighting bloody 
battles enroute. A thousand warriors had gathered in a fortified fort 
at Horse Shoe Bend and Jackson attacked them in March, 1814. None 
of these warriors of the Creeks surrendered but fought to the death until 
600 had been slain and then they gave up the fight to Jackson. 

Weatherford was their greatest leader and had butchered the whites 
at Fort Mimms to the last soul. So Jackson had ordered his soldiers to 
bring Chief Weatherford bound and alive to his camp. While sitting 
alone in his tent, just at sunset, a noble-looking Indian entered, and 
drawing himself up to his full height, and folding his arms, said, "I am 
Weatherford, the chief who commanded at Fort Mimms. I have come 
to ask peace for myself and my people." Jackson said, "I am astonished 
that one so guilty should dare to appear in my presence and ask for 
peace and protection." 

Weatherford replied, 'I am in your power. Do with me as you 
please. I am a soldier. I have done the white people all the harm I 
could. I have fought them, and fought them bra\ely; if I had an army, 
I would yet fight and contend to the last, but I have no army. My 
people are all gone. I can now do no more than weep over the mis- 
fortunes of my nation." 

Here was a man after Jackson's own heart. Weatherford loved 
his people, had fought to protect his fatherland from the invader, and 
how fearlessly he now expressed his patriotism ! Jackson told him sub- 
mission and acceptance of a home in Indian Territory would save the 
rest of his people. And so Weatherford was allowed to keep his life 
and was a prisoner of war but with the freedom of the camp as an honor 
from one brave man to another. 

On one of his trips as a Judge through the woods to hold one of 
his courts a friend warned him that a mob of men were laying for him 
in the frontier town for which he was bound. At the time he had inter- 
mittent fever so bad that it was all he could do to ride his good horse. 
The threat aroused him, he spurred on, and made his hotel before sun- 
set of the same day. Burning with fe\er, he laid down on his hotel bed. 
The mob was led by a Col. Harrison and was said to be at the Inn's 
door with a regiment to tar and feather him. Refusing to lock his door, 
and leaving it open, Jackson said with peculiar emphasis which had won 
him many battles without fighting, "Give my compliments to Col. Har- 
rison and tell him my door is open to receive him and his regiment when 
they choose to wait upon me. And that I hope the Colonel's chivalry 
will induce him to lead his men and not follow them." Nothing hap- 
pened. Held court next day unmolested. 

9 



He remained Judge of the highest court of Tennessee for six years 
and held court all over the state. No records have been found of his 
decisions, yet report has it that he presided with dignity, and his decisions 
were brief and were never overruled by a higher court and so were 
generally right. 

With his lawyer's fees and commissions he was able to buy large 
tracts of land four years before Tennessee was admitted to the Union of 
States. Then he sold large tracts out of it to Eastern merchants, taking 
their notes for the land, purchased a good deal of merchandise, opened 
up a few stores and put some relatives in charge of them. Eastern mer- 
chants became bankrupt next year and Jackson had to pay up. He did 
so, but took nearly all the rest of his land, but at the end of his six 
years as a Judge of the highest state court he undauntingly kept on sell- 
ing land until he had the bankrupt merchants all paid up by 1804. 

Resigning the judgeship in 1804, he bought The Hermitage near 
Nashville, determined to make it his home, and give all his time to farm- 
ing and forsake the law. He still had 6000 acres left and of these he 
soon had 1800 acres cleared and under cultivation. His became the most 
prosperous plantation of the Southland. He was more of a success as a 
farmer than George Washington and a far more successful horse breeder 
than Henry Clay. 

Jackson the fighter, the lawyer, the politician, the judge, the states- 
man, declared that closer to him than all honors of fame were his coun- 
try, his home, and his farm. War followed for eight years and inter- 
rupted him, and then the White House. Yet his farm prospered. He 
used up-to-date methods in raising cotton and corn and wheat. As soon 
as Eli Whitney's cotton gin was on the market Jackson was the first to 
buy it for his plantation and it was run by water power, too. Constantly 
on the alert for new kinds of farm implements, he would travel miles 
to see a new make of plow work, a new grist mill, or a fine horse, etc. 

While his first Hermitage was being built Jackson lived in a fron- 
tier block house on the plantation near a spring. It was 24 feet by 
26 feet and was two stories liigh ; down stairs was a living room and 
kitchen all in one as per modern day apartments. Upstairs was a store 
room and used for fighting off Indians years before. Nearby cabins were 
used as rooms for various members of the family. Jackson's 60 slaves 
were housed in cabins farther off. Finally when the Hermitage was 
finished he moved into it and on his long absences flgiiting for his coun- 
try his beautiful wife, Rachel Jackson, ran the entire 6000 acres. 

Mrs. Rachel Jackson was a good housewife and managed the 
darkies better than he and got more work than he ever could out of 
them. She had the slaves make everything on the place, such as clothes 
from the 100 sheep whose wool was doled out to the old women slaves 
to weave into cloth. They wove it into cloth 50 yards long in each bolt 
and made 5 yards a day. Bricks were made on the place and all the 
food. Hats had to be purchased, but the tannery, grist mill, blacksmith 
shops, smoke house and syrup mills were a few of his community fac- 
tories to keep down the high cost of living in those days. After her 

10 



death at 61 years of age, Jackson managed the plantation from the 
White House through overseers. 

In the fall of 1833 he shipped 20,000 pounds of cotton by packet 
to New Orleans at Christmas to a commission merchant and in return 
was sent back provisions to last another year. He obtained 9 cents a 
pound for this lot of cotton, and paid all debts he owed. 

When he went to Philadelphia to arrange a credit for all his stores 
he returned through Virginia and stopped at Berkley Estate and pur- 
chased the most famous horse of those days back in 1804. Truxton and 
throe marcs (descendants of Godolphin Arabian, the strain that revolu- 
tionized horse racing) were sent to Jackson's Hermitage Estate and the 
fame of this steed spread far and wide. Truxton's colts sold fast and 
for large sums, and even before being foaled. Jackson's farming was 
scientific and not just luck. He was a skilled veterinarian. Before 
retiring he always went to the barn to see if Truxton was safe for the 
night. This famous racer never lost a two-mile race in his prime, and 
had four of his colts very victorious throughout the South. Jackson 
backed his horses heavily, and finally built his own race track on his 
private estate. It was two miles west of the Hermitage, and on it Trux- 
ton's colts were as successful as their sire. 

Jackson's little grandson was taking a walk with him one day, and 
entered the pasture where Truxton was. The fiery untamed horse tore 
across the field at them with teeth bared, eyes blood shot, and looking as 
if to tear both to pieces. Pushing his little grandson behind him, he said 
to him never to fear. He calmly faced the horse and looked it in the eye 
as it dashed at him. Instead of killing the intruders, Truxton swerved a 
foot or so away and turned and ran ofi. No doubt Jackson's eye con- 
quered him and saved both their lives. 

At one time Jackson could ride over 50,000 acres of his own. 
Jefferson had 5,000 acres, and was bom rich, whereas Jackson earned 
his at the bar. The home this fighter lived in represents his habits, 
tastes, and love for God's beautiful out of doors. It was the private 
background of his public life, and like the man, it was magnificent and 
charming even to those who never before had seen or suspected such 
tranquil happiness to be found in a home, especially of such a fighter for 
his countrv and her beloved people — Andrew Jackson. 



11 



The Romantic Heritage 

I WILL present to you tlieir original home on the Hermitage tract 
where their early married life was passed, their home circle being 
completed by the presence of the little child, a nephew of Mrs. 
Rachel Jackson — adopted by them when only three days old, and carried 
through the woods in old Hannah's arms, who lived until she was 
101 years old, telling over and over this story — saying that word was 
brought to "The Hermitage" one morning while Old IVIassa and Missus 
were at breakfast that twin boys had been born to Mrs. Jackson's 
brother, Severn Donelson, living two miles distant. Old Missus looked 
across at the General saying, "I'm afraid brother's wife will be unable 
to raise both the little fellows, with all those other children — she isn't 
very strong you know." "Suppose we take one of them," she added. 
Massa look at her a minute queer like — then said, "Well, suppose I 
have the horses brought around after breakfast and we will ride over 
and see how they feel about it." Sure enough they did take one of the 
twins and it was made Old Hannah's special charge to look after the 
boy through childhood. Later on Old Hannah was assigned to look 
after Mrs. Jackson, and another slave was assigned to look after Jack- 
son's son. This slave was named Alfred, (Uncle Alfred). He took 
charge of little Andrew, going fishing and hunting with him and his 
little Donelson cousins. 

On one occasion the son attempted to press Alfred into senice as 
a body servant when leaving the "Hermitage" for a trip south on a 
steamboat, his usual attendant being suddenly made ill. It was with 
some misgiving as to the results that Alfred was called from the field, 
put into a new suit of clothes, given a few hasty instructions as to his 
new duties and manners among white folks, and they boarded the steam- 
boat. All went well until next morning when the son upon leaving his 
berth missed Alfred and hearing a great uproar outside, hastened out to 
find him at bay, holding towels, soap and basin behind him, surrounded 
by a crowd of fuming, yet amused white folks demanding the toilet 
articles. But to every demand Alfred would make no other reply but 
"Can't no one wash hisself till Massa Andrew's used these things, no 
sah. Guess I knows my business better'n dat!" And it required some 
persuasion on Massa Andrew's part to convince Alfred of his mistake. 
All through the trip "(^Id Alfred" couldn't be made to understand that 
other white folks had rights to equal consideration with Massa Andrew, 
who had constantly to watch him to keep him out of trouble, deciding 
to leave him at home thereafter. 

To this Hermitage General Andrew Jackson returned from New 
Orleans and later to journey back again with his wife to attend the 
grand ball and reception tendered him there on the 8th of January. In 
a painting of Mrs. Jackson the artist represents her in her ball room 
dress, parts of the costume being still preserved and worn by some one 
representing her at the balls given from time to time on every 8th of 
January since then. 

12 



To their unpretentious home fame followed — distinguished 
strangers constantly finding their way there, Aaron Hurr, Colonel Ben- 
ton of Missouri, General Sam Houston of Texas, Governors Carroll 
and Blount, among many others, including also General Lafayette and 
French officers. 

On one occasion a large company of French officers visited him 
there — expressing great surprise afterwards at the extreme plainness of 
the surrounding and style of living of so famous a man, but declared 
that he received them like a king would in some foreign palace. 

At the close of the Seminole War he returned to "The Hermitage" 
with greatly impaired health, forcing him to resign his commission in 
the army, and to refuse the Ministry to Mexico. Exposure to the hard- 
ships of his military campaigns in the South along with his soldiers in 
the swamps and lowlands of Florida, Georgia and Louisiana, — all this 
so undermined his constitution that retirement seemed as needful to the 
preservation of his own life as it was to the happiness of his wife. She 
always opposed his leaving home to accept any office whatsoever, even 
that of Senator of the United States. 

It was at this period, in 1819, that he had the present "Hermitage" 
erected on the site selected by her, saying, "I am building it for her. 
I do not expect to live in it myself. She chose this spot herself and she 
shall have her wish and so there it shall be built." It was built on the 
north side of a slight rise half way up the lawn, making visible from 
the gateway the roof and upper porches. The gateway through which 
one enters "The Hermitage" grounds leads through a long avenue of 
cedars planted by Jackson's direction and outlined in the ,^ape of a 
guitar. Visitors entering the grounds followed the oirtlines of the 
guitar-shaped drive to the doors of "The Hermitage" where at any time, 
until its master's death. Old Dick might expect to be summoned by the 
visiting strangers. They were never refused admission, whether the 
General was engaged or not. Old Dick ushered them into the hall w^ith 
due ceremony, requesting them to rest in the parlor until he called Massa 
or Miss Sarah. The hallway, like in most all old time southern homes, 
occupied fully one-third of the lower floor of the main building, giving 
the impression of shady coolness even in high summer. Its hangings 
were scenic representations of lelenmashus, showing trees, flowering 
plants, grottoes, nymphs, lakes and streams so lifelike in size and appear- 
ance or coloring as to give one the impression of having gone out rather 
than in doors. Much of the furniture, as well as the above hangings, 
were imported through New York from France, Italy and Greece, and 
in these surroundings the General and his wife lived since 1819. In 
the hallway, especially, were the young folks most apt to linger, smiling 
shyly at the scenes picturing lelemashus' flight with Menton from the 
allurements of the queen and her nymphs, who, according to Old 
Alfred's version of the story, "had never seen a man before," and who, 
to prevent their escape, set fire to his vessel, compelling lelemashus and 
Menton to leap from the rocks into the sea, braving Old Neptune again 
in the search of Ulysses. Here until after General Andrew Jackson's 
death hung the large oil painting presented to General Jackson by the 

13 



City of Charleston. It represented the gallant action of Ranssell and 
Mason during a riot. The election of Gomez Padias to be president of 
Mexico was not acquiesced in by the people who were discontented and 
soon revolted. Mr. Ranssell's house was one of a quadruple, his neigh- 
bor being the widow of the former Viceroy of Mexico, who rushed onto 
the balcony frantic with fear and implored Mr. Ranssell to protect her 
home. While he was giving her assurance of protection, assuring her of 
no danger, and calming her fears, a shot was fired at him from the roof 
of the Convent opposite his house. The ball passed through his cheek 
and buried itself in the shutter of the balcony window. He retired 
within the house. Shortly afterwards the besiegers were heard advanc- 
ing. The tramp of armed men and the hum of voices above indicated 
their approach, but when they reached the house, there arose one wild 
shout, and a desperate rush was made to force open the door. The 
massive gates resisted the utmost efforts of the mob. A cry arose to fire 
into the windows — to bring up cannons — to shoot in the doors. Bitter 
imprecations were uttered against the owner of the house for sheltering 
there — the ex-Spaniard — many of whom had sought an asylum in Mr. 
Ranssell's house. At this moment Mr. Ranssell directed Mr. Mason, 
the Secretary of the American Legation, to throw out the Hag of the 
United States of America. This was gallantly done and they both stood 
on the balcony beneath its waving folds. The streets were hushed, the 
soldiers slowly dropped the muzzles of their guns which had been 
levelled at the balcony and windows. The painting represented this 
scene at the moment Mr. Ranssell seized his opportunity to tell them 
who he was and as the flag waved over him to claim security for all 
who were under its protection. Seeing the crowd was awed, he dis- 
patched his servant with a note to the command of the besieging anny. 
The servant returned and reported that the press was so great that the 
porter was afraid to open the gates lest the crowd should rush in. He 
instantly resolved to go down himself ami have the gates opened. So 
he descended the stairs and was joined by Mr. Mason. They proceeded 
together across the courtyard to the gates and the porter was ordered to 
open them. As they stepped over the threshold the dense crowd which 
filled the street rolled back like a wave in the ocean. The ser\ant 
(a Mexican) was sent quickly on his errand, and before the crowd 
recovered from their astonishment the two gentlemen returned to the 
courtyard and the gates were closed by the porter. Before coming to 
the door of the house they heard the advance of a body of cavalry. It 
was commanded by a friend of the legation. The gates were thrown 
open, the horsemen rode into the courtyard, their commander stationed 
sentinels around the house and Mr. Ranssell had the satisfaction of 
redeeming his promise of protection to the wife of the Mexican Viceroy. 
Her house was respected amidst the wildest disorders that followed and 
those who had sought protection and an asylum under the flag of the 
United States were afterwards never in danger. 

Hiis hung across the wall from a life-size painting of Christopher 
Columbus, presented to Cieneral Andrew Jackson by the City of Rox- 
bury, Massachusetts, in 1833. Also in the hall was his office chair pre- 

14 



sented to him by the wife of Chief justice Taney, and his hat rack and 
umbrella stand, and the handsome table presented to him by the Citizens 
of New Orleans after that famous world heralded battle ; hand-carved 
sofas, chairs of mahoj^any and imported carpets, all went to complete 
the furnishings of the great hallway, which ended in a wide and beauti- 
ful spiral staircase to the second iloor. 

Within the parlor can be seen the quaint little old piano and stool, 
and the lovely refined countenance of Mrs. Rachel Jackson, painted so 
well by the great artist llealy. Nearby hung the portrait of his son's 
wife, Sarah Vorke, of Philadelphia — mute and lasting testimonial to 
General Jackson's affection for his daughter as he always called the 
wife of his son, from the hour when awaiting her arrival as a bride, on 
the porch of the White House, surrounded by his cabinet officers. "Old 
Hickory" descended the steps to meet her at the carriage door and taking 
lier by the hand with uncovered head, led her into the White House 
and received her there and then into his heart and home. She remains 
in history in his will, and lies buried now in The Hermitage family 
burial plot near him. Above the door in the parlor is a large picture by 
Healy of General Jackson. The artist was sent to The Hermitage by 
the King of f>ance, Louis Phillipe, to obtain his portrait for the King's 
gallery of portraits at Versailles. Healy called at The Hermitage one 
morning when the family was absent in the city of Nashville, was ad- 
mitted by the servants, and shown to General Jackson's room. In he 
rushed in his excitement, and exclaimed, "I have come to paint your pic- 
ture!" No one knew what to think of him. And he was told that the 
family would not return until evening. In despair he returned to Nash- 
ville, found the son and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. A. Jackson, Jr., 
returned with them in the carriage and the next morning he explained 
his errand to the General. But the General was on his death bed, being 
78 years of age and very feeble. He would not consent, saying he was 
too weak to sit up for the portrait and suffering too much pain. His 
daughter pleaded with him to do so if feeling better later on. "My 
daughter, I'll consent on one condition, — that you will also pose for 
yours by the same artist." She agreed and later on he was propped up 
on pillows and Healy finally made the last of his portraits just before 
he died in June, 1845. 

Andrew Jackson lived only for his loved ones and for his beloved 
country — these United States. 

"Rear'd to her glory by his hands. 
Thou, altho' nowhere else, shalt see 
A statesman and a chief like thee. 
How rare the sight, how grand ! 
Behold the golden scales of Justice stand 
Well balanced in a mailed hand !" 

Andrew Jackson thanked God that his life had been spent in a land 
of liberty, and that He had given him a heart to love his country' with 
the affection of a son, and was filled with gratitude for the constant and 
unwavering kindness of friends and loved ones. 

15 



Andrew Jackson to His Heirs, Forever 

State of Tennessee, 
Davidson County. 

One-fourth Acre to be held in trust for a burial plat at 
"The Hermitage," Nashville, Tennessee. 
x\o. 24984, Registered October 7, 1833. 
Eaton, Coffee & Jacksox 

of 
Andrew Jackson 

This indenture made and entered into this 17th day of September, 
1832, by and between Andrew Jackson, now President of the United 
States, of the one part, and John H. Eaton, John Coffee, and Andrew 
Jackson, Jr., of the other part. 

Witnesseth that the said Andrew Jackson, of the one part, in con- 
sideration of the trust and confidence he reposes in the said Eaton, 
Coffee, and Jackson, of the other part, and the further consideration of 
one dollar paid and received, hath bargained, and sold, and by these 
presents bargains, sells, conveys, and delivers, to the said Eaton, Coffee, 
and Jackson, and their heirs forever, in trust and for the purposes here- 
inafter stated : one-fourth part of an acre of ground, out of the Her- 
mitage tract, to be laid off and run out so as to include the tomb or 
monument placed over the remains of his dear, departed wife Rachel 
Jackson, and designed as the deposit of the remains of the said Andrew 
Jackson when it pleases God to take him hence, and the family of 
Andrew Jackson, Jr., and his heirs. 

It is understood that the said parcel of ground thus conveyed, so to 
be run or laid off, as that the tomb or monument now in the Garden, 
shall be in, or near, the center of the said One Fourth of an acre of 
ground. 

To have and to hold the aforesaid parcel of one fourth of an acre 
of ground, free from the claims of my heirs forever, unto the end, that 
the parties of the second part and their heirs, as trustees shall preserve 
the sacred deposit made upon said ground and let the tomb or monu- 
ment remain undisturbed, and hold the ground subject to the use and 
purpose mentioned, forever. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day 
and date before written. 
Test: Geo. Breathell, Notary. 

Chas. I. Love, Tho. Crutcher, 

\Vitncsses. 
ANDREW JACKSON, (Seal) 

Test: Henry Ewing, Clerk Davidson County Court, 
Session of 1832, Vol. 5, page 463. 

HIS PHILADELPHIA FRIENDS OF 1836 

In Andrew Jackson's trunk a roll of paper is found containing an 
urgent invitation from 1056 leading citizens to visit Philadelphia. All 

16 



of them signed with good goose quill pens and said in these words: 
"To General Andrew Jackson, President of the United States. 

Philadelphia, Oct. 1st, 1836. 
SIR: 

The undersigned citizens of the City and County of Philadelphia 
beg respectfully to invite you to visit them; they had hoped that your 
arrangements might have enabled you to do so on your late return from 
Tennessee to the seat of Government; they can now only ask it at such 
period as may be convenient before you shall again go to the Hermitage 
in Tennessee. 

In tending to you this invitation we express a wish which is ardently 
indulged in throughout our community and should a compliance with it 
be convenient with your engagements we shall derive from it unusual 
pleasure. 

As the period rapidly approaches when you are about to resign your 
present elevated office — when you are about to dissolve those public rela- 
tions, which now in some part connect you with each of us — as with 
every one of your countrymen, this expression of our heartfelt sentiments 
will perhaps be received, not as a mark of official courtesy, but as a 
spontaneous manifestation of personal attachment, widely and warmly 
cherished. 

We cannot bring ourselves to consider the event to which we refer 
as a mere incident in the political history of our country; for we already 
feel far more than common emotion, in reflecting that it will withdraw 
from us one who has so truly deserved and secured our admiration and 
gratitude. 

Placed at the head of our armies, in a short but gallant conflict you 
have preserved for your country the reputation of that martial genius 
which was known in the time-honored battles of the Revolution. 

Elevated to the post of highest civil responsibility, you have fear- 
lessly administered our Government with conscientious adherence to the 
republican spirit in which it was established, gaining for it abroad 
unprecedented deference and respect, securing for it at home almost 
unequaled confidence and support. 

It is true that in your retirement these actions will not be forgotten, 
for they will serve as a standard by which to judge those on whom the 
American people may hereafter confer the same distinction ; and they 
will animate those, who, at some future day and in the hour of need 
may like yourself, hasten from the bosom of domestic life, to protect the 
honor and assert the glory of our Country. But ere that moment of 
retirement arrives it is natural that we, your countrymen and your 
friends, — the immediate witnesses of those actions, and, in a degree, at 
least, the partners of your labors, should desire to exchange with you 
sentiments we believe to be mutual, which the approach of lasting 
separation makes more strong. 

In this spirit our invitation is given. 

We trust it may be in your power to accept it. If not, however, 
it has at least afiforded us this opportunity of expressing to you, as we 

17 



sincerely do, the hope that the remnant of your days on earth may be 
passed in that tranquil serenity which is the kindest gift of Heaven to 
the useful and the good ; and the best probation for that state when 
human conduct will receive its merited reward. 

We are with great respect, 

Your friends and fellow-citizens: 

(Signed by 1056 Philadelphians of well known families.) 



Paris, 24 January, 1847. 



)ir ; 



It is with lively and respectful gratitude for the illustrious general 
who deigned to give me so flattering a mark of remembrance that I have 
just received the legacy, so honorable for me, which you were good 
enough to confide to the obliging care of General Armstrong. 

To become the depositary and guardian of these arms, first pos- 
sessed by the great man who was the founder of the liberty of his coun- 
try, and afterwards piously cherished by the citizen warrior who de- 
fended New Orleans, is a happiness to which I had no right to aspire. 
The son of General Lafayette, I know that it is to the memory of my 
father I am indebted for the signal honor conferred upon me, and of 
which may I be permitted to say, I am perhaps worthy on account of 
the inestimable value at which it is prized by me. 

Be assured. Sir, it will never be without profound emotion, that an 
old soldier, and devoted disciple of the great citizen whose name he has 
the honor to bear, will contemplate these precious arms, to be ever appre- 
ciated henceforward with the undying memory of Washington and of 
Jackson. 

Permit me to join to the homage of my veneration for the memory 
of the father you have lost, my thanks for yourself, as well as the expres- 
sion of distinguished consideration with which I have the honor to 
be. Sir, 

Your very obedient and devoted servant, 

George W. Lafayette. 
Mr. Andrew Jackson, 
Hermitage, near Nashville, Tennessee. 

Paris, 24 January, 1847. 
General : 

Allow me to hope that you will pardon me for not having before 
expressed to you my acknowledgment for the charge you have been kind 
enough to take of the precious relic confided to you by Mr. Andrew 
Jackson to deliver to me in Europe. 

Absent from Paris when your son arrived, I have since my return 
hardly left the sick bed to which one of my sisters is yet confined by the 
consequences of a serious accident, and I have thus been deprived of the 
advantage of becoming acquainted with Mr. Armstrong before his de- 
parture for Italy. It was not until yesterday in my power to receive 
from Mr. Martin, the representative of the I'nited States in France, a 
legacy so interesting to nic and to which so many proud and venerable 
recollections will forever cling. 

18 



It is with happiness, General, it is with the most profound respect, 
that I take possession of tliesc arms which after liaving accompanied 
during the glorious campaigns of the American revolution, the immortal 
commander of the amiy of independence, were long suspended beneath 
the laurels of the defender of New Orleans before they came to honor 
the modest dwelling of an old soldier of France. Permit me to add 
that I owe many thanks to Mr. Andrew Jackson, who in order to 
transmit the invaluable gift bequeathed to me, made choice of the hand 
in which reposes at present the veteran and noble sword of his illustrious 
father. 

\'our sojourn in Europe, General, authorizes me to hope that I may 
soon have the opportunity of expressing to you in person my acknowledg- 
ments. For the present. General, be good enough to accept the assur- 
ance of distinguished consideration with which I have the honor to be 
your very obedient and devoted servant, 

George W. Lafayette. 
General Armstrong, 
Consul of the United States at Liverpool. 



Paris le 24 January 1847. 

In receiving from you, Sir, yesterday the arms of French origin, 
worn by my father in America, in the cause of independence and of 
liberty ; afterwards sanctified, if I may so express myself, by the hand 
of the great man, whose memory is the object of a nation's devotion ; 
and which subsequently adorned the retirement of an illustrious Gen- 
eral, I bowed down before great and painful recollections at the same 
time that I was moved by the liveliest gratitude for the venerable soldier, 
who deigned to remember that the son of General Lafayette was also 
the god-son of Washington. 

You know, Sir, my devotion to the country which you worthily 
represent, and my respectful admiration for the eminent men, who were 
and ever will be, its honor and its glory. I may therefore hope that you 
also know how happy and proud I am to have been selected as the 
guardian of so high an inheritance. It is with confidence then, that I 
request you to be so good as to convey to the first depositaries of the 
precious gift which I have just received, the expression of the sentiments 
awakened in my breast by this honorable mark of kindness on the part 
of General Jackson. 

Permit me to congratulate myself that a circumstance so agreeable 
to me, has once more brought me into relations with you, and be kind 
enough to accept, together with my thanks, the expression of distin- 
guished consideration with which I have the honor to be, Sir, 

Your very devoted servant, 

George W. Lafayette. 
Mr. Martin, 

Charge d'al^airs of the L^nited States. 

19 



Lawsuit Briefs, Jackson vs. Blair 

M(^RE than forty years ago briefs were prepared in a suit to com- 
pel the Blairs to return the Jackson papers to General Andrew- 
Jackson's heirs. 
The suit was brought in 1885, but was delayed from time to time, 
and no action was ever taken by the court concerning the valuable 
documents. 

These documents of General Andrew Jackson, now held by the 
Library of Congress, are said to have been turned over to that Librar}' 
by the Blairs. And it clearly appears the Blairs never had any right to 
the documents. They held them merely in trust as a result of their 
being loaned to Francis Blair for use in writing the life of General 
Andrew Jackson. 

The papers filed in the suit long ago and from which no decision 
was ever rendered since — are as follows: 

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE DISTRICT 

OF COLUMBIA 

Andrew Jackson, Administrator de bonis non, with the will annexed 
of Andrew Jackson, deceased. Complainant, 
vs. 
Woodbury Blair and Blair Defendants. 

(EQUITY DOCKET) 

The plaintiff complains of the defendant as follows: 

1st. The plaintiff is a citizen of the State of Tennessee, residing 
at The Hermitage, in the County of Davidson, in the said state, and 
brings this suit in his right as administrator, de bonis non, with the will 
annexed, of the estate of Andrew Jackson, deceased, duly appointed as 
such, by the Orphans Court of the District of Columbia. 

2nd. The defendants are residents of the District of Columbia, 
and are sued in their own right. 

3rd. The said Andrew Jackson, deceased, departed this life on the 
8th day of June, A. D. 1845, at The Hermitage aforesaid, leaving a 
will which was duly proved by the subscribed witnesses thereto, and 
duly admitted to probate in the probate court of the County of David- 
son, in the State of Tennessee, of which will and proceeding duly 
authenticated copies arc now on file in the Orphans Court of this dis- 
trict, and which complainant prays may be referred to and taken as a 
part of this bill. 

4th. By the terms of said will the said testator named and 
nominated his adopted son, Andrew Jackson, Jr., executor thereof, and 
said Anilrew Jackson, Jr., was duly appointed such executor and quali- 
fied as such before the probate court of the said County of Davidson, in 
the State of Tennessee as will appear by duly authenticated copies of 
certain proceedings held in said court now on file in the Orphans Court 
of this district, and which complainant prays may be referred to anil 
taken as a part of this bill. 

20 



5th. By the terms of said will the said testator bequeathed to his 
said adopted son and executor, the said Andrew Jackson, jr., all the 
goods and chattels and personal estate belonging to the said testator not 
otherwise disposed of. 

6th. The said executor departed this life upon the April 15th, 
A. D. 1865, intestate, and therefore to-wit: on the 11th day of Novem- 
ber, A. D. 1865, letters of administration upon his goods, chattels and 
personal estate were duly granted by the probate court of the said 
County of Davidson, in the State of Tennessee, unto the complainant in 
this case, a copy of which letters of administration, duly authenticated, 
are now on file in the Orphans Court of this district, and which com- 
plainant prays may be referred to and taken as a part of this bill. 

7th. Among the goods and chattels belonging to the said Andrew 
Jackson, testator, at the time of his death, and not specifically disposed 
of by his said will were a large number of papers of great value, com- 
prising correspondence and other documents, relating to the private life 
of said Andrew Jackson and to his public career as President, and as 
member of both branches of the Congress of the United States and as 
an officer of the army. 

8th. That of these papers a number had been entrusted to by the 
said testator before his death to the Hon. Amos Kendall of Washington, 
in the District of Columbia, for use by him in preparing a biography of 
the said testator, which the said Kendall had undertaken to write and 
publish, and in the case of the failure of the said Kendall to complete 
and publish the said biography the said papers were to be placed in the 
hands of the Hon. Francis P. Blair, Sr., in trust for a similar purpose. 

9th. That others of said papers had been entrusted by the said 
testator before his death, to the Hon. Montgomery Blair for delivery to 
the said Francis P. Blair, Sr., in trust for said purpose, and to said 
Blair on certain other literary work which he then had in contemplation. 

10th. That the said Amos Kendall departed this life upon the 
12th day of December, A. D. 1869, without completing the said biog- 
raphy, and that the papers entrusted to him were never delivered by 
said Kendall or his legal representatives to the said Francis P. Blair, Sr., 
and never in fact came in possession of the said Blair, but that the same 
were mislaid for more than twenty (20) years ^nd the whereabouts 
were unknown to complainant, and as complainant believes and avers 
likewise to defendants. 

11th. That the said Francis P. Blair, Sr., departed this life on 
the 18th day of December, A. D. 1876, without completing, or even 
undertaking, so far as complainant is advised, the biography of com- 
plainant's testator, or the literary work, to aid which some of the said 
papers were entrusted to him through Montgomery Blair, as aforesaid. 

12th. That none of the above mentioned papers were ever reduced 
to possession, or administered upon by the executor of complainant's 
testator, but that long after the death of the said executor all of the 
above mentioned papers passed into the possession of the defendants to 
this bill. 

21 



13th. That upon learning the whereabouts of said papers com- 
plainant obtained from the proper court of the County of Davidson, 
State of Tennessee, the last domicile of the testator, letters of adminis- 
tration, de bonis non, with the will annexed, upon the estate of the said 
Andrew Jackson, deceased, and through his complainant's agent made 
demand upon the defendants for said papers ; but that the said defend- 
ants, as the complainant is informed and believes, refused to deliver said 
papers to complainant or his agent aforesaid, and that said defendant 
either alone or jointly with some other person or persons, to complainant 
unknown, claim to be the lawful owners of said papers or to have some 
right, title or interest therein, the nature of which is to this complainant 
unknown, and that they, the said defendants, now retain possession 
thereof within the District of Columbia and the jurisdiction of this 
honorable court. 

14th. That complainant is advised and asserts that the defendants 
have no such right, title, or interest but that he, the complainant, as the 
administrator, de bonis non, with will annexed of the estate of the said 
Andrew Jackson, deceased, is entitled to the possession of said papers 
and to administer upon the same as a part of the assets of said estate ; 
but complainant cannot describe said property with sufficient accuracy 
to enable him to bring an action at law against the defendant for the 
recovery of the same, their number, description and character being 
within the exclusive knowledge of the defendants, and that a knowledge 
of the same cannot be procured by this complainant without the aid of 
the honorable court. 

15th. That complainant believes and therefore charges and avers 
that unless restrained by this honorable court, the defendants will re- 
move said papers from the District of Columbia and from the jurisdic- 
tion of the honorable court or will make such other disposition of the 
same as will prevent complainant from obtaining possession thereof, or 
that they will publish the same in a manner not contemplated by the 
testator in his life time, and to the prejudice of the rights of the com- 
plainant and those interested in the estate of the said testator; and that 
said papers arc now at the private residence of the defendants ; and that 
they are blurred and exposed to the dangers of fire, burglary, or other 
mishaps, and are subject and liable to the decay and destruction incident 
to misuse or neglect, and that they are in every respect in an insecure 
place and condition. 

Wherefore the said complainant in view of the premises offers the 
following: 

1st. That the said defendants and each of them and their attor- 
neys, solicitors, assignees and agents and each and every one of them, 
may by writ of injunction to be issued out of and under the seal of this 
court, be strictly restrained and enjoined from destroying any of the 
papers or documents entrusted as aforesaid by the said testator, Andrew 
Jackson, to the said Amos Kendall, or to the said Montgomery Blair, for 
delivering to the said Francis P. Blair, Sr., and from removing the same 
from the jurisdiction of this honorable court, and from exercising any 

99 



and all acts of ownership over the same until the further virder of the 
court in the premises. 

2nd. That the said defendants be required to, by the order vf the 
honorable court to furnish to complainant a full true and complete list 
and description of all of said papers and documents so entrusted afore- 
said ami now in their possession, and to appear and discovery make, 
under their oaths, showing by what right, title, or interest they, the said 
detcnilants, now have and hold possession of the same. 

3rd. That a receiver be appointed, with the powers of receivers 
in like cases, to demand and receive all of said papers and documents of 
and from the said defendants, and to hold the same until the final decree 
of this court in the premises, or until further order of the court. 

4th. That said defendants and each of them may be adjudged and 
decreed to hold all of said papers and documents in trust for your com- 
plainant with damages for the retention thereof since the 3rd day of 
July, A. D. 1884. 

5th. That said received may be ordered and directed to deliver 
all of said papers and documents to complainants, according to law, as 
part of the estate of the said testator, Andrew Jackson. 

6th. That your complainant may have such other and further 
relief as the nature of his case may require and as shall be agreeable to 
equity and good conscience. 

To which end the complainant prays for process against the said 
Woodbury Blair and Blair Defendants, requiring them to appear accord- 
ing to law and answer to the exigencies of this bill. 

And your complainant will ever pray. 

The defendants to this bill are Woodbury Blair and Blair. 

John Paul Jones, 
Robert B. Lines, 

Complainant's Solicitors. 
District of Columbia. 

Andrew Jackson, III, being first duly sworn on his oath, says that 
he is the complainant ; that he has read said bill of complainant and 
knows contents thereof and that the facts therein stated on his own per- 
sonal knowledge are true and as to the facts stated on information and 
belief he believes them to be true. 

(Signed) Andrew J.ackson, III. 



23 



A. JACKSON 

3338 So. Western Ave. 

Los Angeies, Cal. 



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